Foldable-bottom collapsible egg case



Jan. 7, 1947. c, MONTGOMERY 2,413,774

FOLDABLE-BOTTOM 'COLLAPSIBLE EGG CASE Filed Aug. 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLARENCE 6L. MONTGOMERY Jan. 7, 19 7- c. G. L. MONQI'GOMERY 2,413,774

FOLDABLE-BOTTOM COLLAPSIBLE EGG CASE Filed Aug. 1 .9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLARENCE G L. MONTGOMERY BY WH/TEHf/ID A; l/OGL Afforweys Patented Jan. 7, 1947 FOLDABLE-BOTTOM ooLLAP'sieLc EGG CASE Clarence G. L. Montgomery, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Application August 19, 1944', Serial No.550,204

2 Claims. (01. 217 14) This invention relates to foldable cases for eggs and the like. v

Objects of the invention are to provide a case which, when expanded will accommodate expanded racks for holding eggs or the like but from which said racks may be removed and folded, whereupon the case may be collapsed for shipping or storage and in which case: (a) pockets for accommodation of said folded racks are provided automatically by the collapsing of the case; (b) the racks containing the eggs in the expanded case will be subjected to yielding pressure to minimize shifting; ('0) improved foldable structures are provided, and, (d) lightness, strength and economy are combined with each other and with simplicity of operation;

With these and other objects in View, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter more fully described and as illustrated, in preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the expanded case.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the case as shown at Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking down into the case when folded or collapsed, the cover being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the racks being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the folded rack being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the folded or collapsed case, a portion being broken away to disclose certain structural details.

Fig. 7 is a detail, on enlarged scale, of the pivotal connection between the folding bottom pieces and the spring rods.

The case has two foundation, or fixed, portions each of which comprises two relatively heavy end pieces ID, a relatively thin side H and a bottom piece l2, preferably of the same thickness as side H, all fastened together in any suitable manner,

as by angle straps l3.

Folding bottom pieces M are hinged as at IE to the fixed bottom pieces l2. Folding end pieces [6 are hinged to fixed end pieces I!) as at I! and to each other as at l8. The cover comprises a member l9, hinged to one of the sides II as at 20, of width to substantially cover the case when collapsed and of length suflicient to overlap and rest upon the tops of adjacent end pieces l0, and a flap 2|, hinged to member 19 as at 22, said flap being of width which, added to the width of member l9, will cover the case when expanded,

collapsed, as clearly shown at Figs. 1 and 5. The

folding bottom and end pieces and the cover i9 and flap 2| are all preferably of thin material like sides H and bottoms I2.

Eyelets 23, adapted to sli'dingly accommodate curved spring rods 24 are secured to end pieces l0 and the rods 24 are, at their lower ends, pivotally secured to the ends of the folding bottom pieces 14 in suitable manner as by seating on a lug 25 carried by the upturned end '21 of strap 26, notches 28 being provided in the ends of pieces I4 to accommodate lugs 25, upturned ends 2? and the lower ends of rods 24. Rods 24 are of such length that, when normally curved, their enlarged tops 24a will engage eyelets 23 when bottom pieces M are slightly inclined upwardly, as clearly shown at Fig. 4. Downward pressure on the bottom pieces M will tend to straighten the rods and permit the bottom pieces to assume horizontal position but the rods tend to draw the pieces [4 upwardly to the position shown at Fig. 4', whereby, when the case is filled, there will be some constant upward pressure on the contents, thus minimizing the tendency of the contents to shift in the case. In folding the case the rods 24 slide upwardly in eyelets 23 to the position shown at Fig. 5.

At Fig. 1 the case is shown fully expanded from which condition it may be readily folded to the collapsed condition shown at Figs. 3, 5 and 6 by first raising the bottom pieces M to the vertical position shown at Fig. 5 and, partially, at Fig. 6, then pressing the folding end pieces l6 inwardly to the position shown at Figs. 3, 5 and 6 and then dropping flap 2! down inside the collapsed case where it will lie against the side ll, opposite that which carries hinges 20, all as clearly shown at Fig. 5, in which position member 19 forms a cover for the folded case.

Suitable means, as latch 29, are provided for interlocking the bases of end pieces l5 and thus locking the case in folded position. Suitable means, as latch 30, are provided for securing member IS in closed position, and pairs 3| of holes are provided in the cover member l9, flap 2|, side I l and end pieces l6 for the accommodation of wires 32 which may be passed therethrough and twisted for securing said parts together and securing the case in closed condition. The wires may be clipped or untwisted 3 when desired to open the case, an ordinary pair of pliers being the only tool required.

The racks ordinarily used in egg cases are indicated in broken lines at Fig. 5 where the usual "fiats or horizontal partitions are indicated at 33 as placed vertically in the pocket formed between side I I and upwardly folded bottom member l4 while the usual foldable racks are indicated at 34 in folded condition in the pocket formed by the other bottom member I4 and the other side II.

The accomplishment, by the structure described, of the objects first hereinabove stated. will be obvious from the foregoing description.

It will be understood that many changes in detail of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and illustrated or as defined in the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. In a collapsible case for eggs and the like having a fixed side section including'inwardly projecting bottom and end members, a foldable bottom member hinged to the bottom member of the fixed section and adapted to fold upwardly 4 within the case and curved spring rods slidably mounted on the inside of the end members of the fixed section and having their lower ends pivotally connected with the ends of the foldable bottom member at points distant from the hinged edge thereof whereby the swinging of said bottom member on its hinge will slide said rods in said mountings;

2. In a collapsible case for eggs and the like having a fixed side section including inwardly projecting bottom and end members, a ioldable bottom member hinged to the bottom member of the fixed section and adapted to fold upwardly within the case and curved spring rods slidably mounted on the inside of the end members of the fixed section and having their lower ends pivotally connected with the ends of the foldable bottom member, said rods being adapted to normally hold the unhinged edge of said foldable bottom member above the horizontal position but to permit said foldable bottom member to be depressed to horizontal position responsive to downward pressure on said bottom member.

CLARENCE G. L. MONTGOMERYv 

